Cookie Policy

Effective date: November 7, 2025

Last updated: November 7, 2025

1. What Are Cookies?

A cookie is a small text file that a website stores on your computer or mobile device when you visit. Cookies help websites remember information about your visit, like your preferred language or text size, which makes your next visit easier and the site more useful.

What cookies do:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Help websites understand how many people visit
• Allow certain website features to work properly

What cookies DON'T do (on our site):

• Track you across different websites
• Show you personalized advertising
• Collect sensitive personal information
• Access files or data on your device

2. Cookies We Use

2.1 Essential Cookie (1 cookie)

We use one essential cookie to remember your cookie preferences. This cookie doesn't require your consent because it's necessary for the cookie consent system to work.

2.2 Analytics Cookies (Optional - Requires Consent)

If you consent to analytics cookies, we use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website. This helps us improve content, fix problems, and measure our reach (important for nonprofit reporting to funders).

What Google Analytics collects:

• Number of visitors to each page
• How long people spend on the site
• General geographic location (city/region level, not your address)
• Device type (phone, tablet, computer)
• Browser type (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.)
• How you found our site (search engine, direct link, etc.)

Important: Google Analytics data is anonymized. Your IP address is masked so we can't identify you personally. Google cannot use this data for their own advertising purposes on our site (we've disabled that feature).

2.3 Local Storage (Not a Cookie)

Our website uses browser local storage (not a cookie) to remember your preferred text size. This preference is stored only on your device and is never sent to our servers.

How to clear it:

• Use the font size controls on our website and click "Reset"
• Clear your browser's local storage/site data
• Use browser privacy/incognito mode

2.4 What We DON'T Use

Golden Connection does not use:

• ❌ Advertising cookies (no targeted ads)
• ❌ Social media tracking (no Facebook Pixel, Twitter tags, etc.)
• ❌ Marketing automation cookies
• ❌ Third-party affiliate tracking
• ❌ Cross-site tracking cookies
• ❌ Cookies that track you on other websites

3. How to Manage Cookies

3.1 Using Our Cookie Banner

When you first visit our website, you'll see a cookie consent banner with these options:

• Accept All: Enable analytics cookies to help us improve the site
• Decline: Only use essential cookies (the site works perfectly without analytics)
• Cookie Settings: Learn more and customize your choice

Your choice matters: Declining analytics cookies won't affect your ability to use the website. All features, content, and services remain fully accessible whether you accept or decline.

3.2 Changing Your Mind

You can change your cookie preferences anytime:

• Click "Cookie Settings" in the footer of any page
• The cookie banner will reappear, allowing you to change your choice
• Your new preference will take effect immediately

3.3 Browser Controls

You can also manage cookies directly in your web browser:

Google Chrome:

1. Click the three dots (⋮) in the top right
2. Go to Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
3. Choose your cookie preferences or clear existing cookies

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Click the three lines (≡) in the top right
2. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
3. Manage or clear cookies

Safari:

1. Click Safari → Preferences (or Settings)
2. Go to Privacy tab
3. Manage cookies and website data

Microsoft Edge:

1. Click the three dots (...) in the top right
2. Go to Settings → Cookies and site permissions
3. Manage cookies

3.4 "Do Not Track" Signals

Our website respects "Do Not Track" (DNT) browser signals. If you enable DNT in your browser settings, we will automatically disable analytics cookies even if you haven't explicitly declined them in our cookie banner.

3.5 Private/Incognito Browsing

If you use your browser's private or incognito mode, cookies are automatically deleted when you close the window. In private mode, you'll see the cookie banner each time you visit because your previous choice isn't remembered.

4. Third-Party Cookies (Google Analytics)

Google Analytics is a third-party service provided by Google LLC. When you consent to analytics cookies, Google may set cookies on our site.

What Google Does

• Processes website usage data on our behalf
• Provides us with anonymized reports and statistics
• Stores data on Google's servers (subject to Google's security measures)

What Google Does NOT Do (on our site)

• Use your data for Google's own advertising
• Share your data with other Google services without our permission
• Create advertising profiles based on your visit to our site

Google's Privacy Policy

Google Analytics is subject to Google's privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Opt Out of Google Analytics

You can opt out of Google Analytics across all websites by:

• Installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
• Declining analytics cookies in our cookie banner
• Blocking third-party cookies in your browser settings

5. What Happens If You Decline Cookies?

Good news: Nothing changes!

If you decline analytics cookies:

• ✅ All website content remains fully accessible
• ✅ All features work exactly the same
• ✅ You can still contact us and request services
• ✅ Your text size preference still works (stored in local storage)
• ✅ No loss of functionality whatsoever

The only difference:

• 📊 Your visit won't be counted in our website statistics

Our commitment: We will never reduce functionality, hide content, or limit access based on your cookie choice. Your privacy is your right, not a bargaining chip.

6. Cookie Updates and Changes

If we make changes to our cookie usage:

• We will update this Cookie Policy
• We will update the "Last updated" date at the top
• If we add new types of cookies (like marketing cookies), the cookie banner will reappear asking for your new consent
• We will never add cookies that track you without your explicit consent

Promise: We will never add advertising or marketing cookies without updating this policy and getting your fresh consent through a new banner.

7. Children's Privacy

Golden Connection is designed for adults (primarily age 55+). We do not knowingly use cookies to track anyone under 18 years old. If you are under 18, please ask a parent or guardian for permission before using our website.

8. International Visitors

Golden Connection primarily serves U.S. residents, but our website is accessible worldwide. If you visit from outside the United States:

• The same cookie policies apply to all visitors
• Google Analytics may transfer data to the U.S. (Google is Privacy Shield certified and complies with GDPR)
• European visitors have additional rights under GDPR (see our Privacy Policy)

9. Questions About Cookies?

If you have questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy:

Contact Golden Connection:
Email: hello@goldenconnection.org
Subject line: "Cookie Policy Question"

We'll respond within 7 business days.

10. Additional Resources

Learn more about cookies:

• All About Cookies - Independent guide to cookies and online privacy
• Cookies & You - Simple explanations of cookies and how to manage them

Related policies:

• Golden Connection Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service

Golden Connection is committed to transparency about our use of cookies and respecting your privacy choices. We use cookies responsibly and only when they help us serve you better.

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